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ameydireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My very first Sarah J. Maas book and I have to say it was good. This book gives us a proper introduction to the main characters and to an interesting new world: a world where magic is forbidden. I instantly liked Dorian because of his sweet nature, and Nehemia. She commands respect, is smart enough to lay low when she needs to, and knows magic!
The overall plot was also enjoyable. An assassin (Celaena), locked up in a death prison, gets a chance to win back her freedom. The only thing she has to do is win the King’s Champion Tournament and be his champion for the next four years. Easier said than done. One would expect that a ruthless assassin would do anything to win this competition, especially when there’s so much at stake, but it seems Celaena has an altruistic side as well. She's also a woman of many talents. When some of the champions turn up dead during the tournament, she uses her investigation skills to find the killer. I'm all in for a good murder mystery, so I loved that!
I'm yet to be convinced of her skills as an assassin though. So far, she only thinks about the different ways of disarming and killing the guards, which I found really annoying. We don't see her actually use her abilities. Even when there is something big going on, she has people around that help her. I hope we'll learn more about Celaena as an assassin in the next books. There are many hints to Celaena’s past and I guess that will be covered in the prequel (Assassin’s Blade iirc).
Oh, and the love triangle… nope.
For a first book in a series, it's pretty good. There’s so much more to this world & I’m eager to explore it.
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Rape
jenniferbowman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Vomit, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
jls6283's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The beginning of this book does have its annoyances. It took me a while to get into this style. It’s in 3rd person, but it’s like SJM wanted to show us some of those deep, inner-thought insights like she did in ACoTaR. They seem a little off or forced in some places because we’re NOT inside the character’s head…
With that being said, once you do get through some of the world building I actually found this book to move FASTER than the ACoTaR series because it is a little more plot driven without those long inner monologues. It does feel like it takes longer as a reader to feel connected to Celaena without her thoughts - especially if you read this book first. In hindsight, I wish I had started with Assassins Blade!
There are definitely parts where the writing seems… a little unedited…? I know it’s her first series/book so maybe it’s just that? (The rest of the series doesn’t come off that way to me- just this book.)
There are a lot of loveable characters in here - and of course a few you love to hate! I’m excited to read book 2 😁
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Slavery, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent and War
jenniee_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Slavery, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit and War
eleek0609's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide
Minor: Alcohol and War
krosebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I tried to start this series with the assassins blade (bad idea). This book really hooked me the first part. The middle was slow for me. The last quarter of the book went by fast. I like how Maas wrote the different perspectives and switched in the same chapter. I also liked the multiple romantic interests.
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
tiernanalexandria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
There’s romance, flirting, friendship, trials, mystery and magic.
Celaena was perfectly human (even though she was an assassin), she had feelings and urges. She has rational train of thought that made us love her, and love the people she loved.
The trials were incredible and the mystery continues.
We still don’t know who to root for, or who to hate.
The book ends on a cliff hanger that leaves us hungry for more. I can’t wait to start the next book!
Graphic: Gore, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
laso's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Vomit, Murder, and War
mrs_gale's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Interested in seeing what the rest of the series is like though!
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Vomit, Death of parent, and War
jmdressel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
i loved all the twist and turns of story! can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Moderate: Body horror, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Murder, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent